Ground box with toggle joint



Dec. 29 1925- 1,567,680

R. M. ROBINSON GROUND BOX WITH TOGGLE JOINT Filed Dec 22, 1923 11v VE1 V r012. Foer/ M, Fob/n50 w ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M, ROBINSON, 0F LOUISVILLE.

OF KENTUCKY.

KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO CHEA'II-IAM ELEC- TRIO SWITCHING DEVICE CO., INC., OF LOUISVILLE. KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION GROUND BOX WITH TOGGLE JOINT.

Application filed December 22, 1923. Serial Np. 682,235.

To all uhom 1'1. may concern:

Be it known that I. ROBERT M. RoInNsoN. a citizen of the United States. and a resident of the city of Louisville, county of Jefierson, and State of Kentucky. have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ground Boxes with Toggle Joints, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a ground box with a toggle joint of a novel kind in connection with switches for street railways and the like. Heretofore a toggle has been employed which is spring pressed so as to keep a switch pointrail at one limit or the other of its movement and prevent its stopping at a dead center. A toggle embodying my invention is articulated so as to give an additional movement to the member which is directly driven by the compression spring so as to allow a stronger spring action to be obtained than is normally the ease with the attendant greater security. This and other objects are accomplished by my invention, one embodiment of which is hereinafter more particularly set forth.

For a more particular description of my invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a ground box embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view toggle joint shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the portion of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4c is a diagrammatic view.

Throughout the various views of the draw ings, similar reference characters designate similar parts.

My improved toggle joint 1 is mounted in the usual switch box 2 which is provided with a solenoid casing 3 of the conventional kind in which are mounted the usual double solenoids for throwing a switch point in the conventional manner. The core 4 is shifted in these solenoids and is driven by one or the other, according to which is energized and when so shifted this core also shifts a U connection 5 which is pivotally connected therewith and is also connected to the switch throwing lever 6 in the same manner. The switch throwing lever 6 has a downwardl extending fulcrum 7 which is suitably ournaled in a base block 8 which is of the 'which runs parallel to the part h, but

slightly separated therefrom, as shown in Figure 1. This jaw 10 can be adjusted by a nut on the boltv 5) so as to bear against a large bushing in which the fulcrum 7 may move freely. clamped against this bushing by means of bolt 9 and at the same time the bushing may be easily renewed by loosening the nut at the back of boltf), swinging jaw 10 away from bushing and lifting the bushing out.

The lever 6 has an opening 12 adapted to receive a suitable connection with a switch pointrail and it also. has a small perforated ear 13 which is adapted to drive electrical mechanism, not shown. This lever (3 also has a laterally projecting arm 14 which, in the preferred embodiment of my invention,

is bifurcated and has its parts connected by a pivoted pin 15 which may be held by acotter 16, as shown in Figure 3 or by a cover plate 17, as shown in Figure 1, this cover plate being held by a suitable screw 18 or any other desired means. In any event, something should be provided to prevent the pin 15 from coming out. The pin 15 articulates with a link 19 which has one end resting between the parts 14 and has its other end bifurcated to form perforated ears 20 which carry a pivoted 'in 21 which may be held by a cotter 16 an this pin 20 is pivotally connected to the head 22 of a bolt 23 which preferably has one end sliding freely in a suitable socket 24, see Figure 1, which is pivotally connected at 25 to a projection 26 from the casing 2. This socket 24 also acts as a spring cap to receive one end of a coil spring 27 which is concentrio with the bolt 23 and which has its other end resting against a nut 28 on this bolt, by means of which the spring 27 may be placed and held under any desired tension.

When my improved toggle is in use and the lever 6 is shifted by the core 4 moving in the direction of its length, the arms M are correspondingly shifted through the same angular movement and this movement swings the link 19 which is pivoted both on the pins 15 and 21 so that it ets a very free movement, and throws t e bolt 23 The jaw 10 can be. firmly through more than double the angular movement that it would otherwise have about the pivot so that the spring 27 is more than usually compressed and expanded during the throw and therefore it is more efiective. The double articulation is such that the end 29 of the link 19 will pound against and then rest against the lever 6 when the core 4 is drawn to its innerposition and the end then rest against this lever 6 when the core 4 is drawn-to its outer position. In any event the movement of the bolt is more than double what it would be of this link were done away with and the head 22 directly connected to the arms 14 as has been here tofore the custom and the action of the spring 27 is twice as vigorous on account of its greater play and sudden actlon at the completion of its expansion. The result is that the rail connected to the lever 6 is firm- 1y held even though a slight obstruction intervenes.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that it is not restricted thereto, but that it is broad enough to cover all structures that come within the scope of the annexed claims.

Having thus described what I claim is:

1. A toggle joint provided with a lever, a projection from said lever, a link pivotally connected to said projection, a pivotally mounted and spring pressed bolt pivoted at its outer end to a stationary member and a pivot connecting said link and bolt, whereby the lever and bolt are connected through two articulations.

my invention,

will pound against and- 2. A toggle joint projection from sai connected to said 3. The combination of a round box and atoggle joint mounted within said box, said toggle joint provided with a lever, a projection from said lever, a link pivotally connected to said projection, a pivotally mounted and sprin" pressed bolt pivoted at its outer end an a pivot connecting said link and bolt, whereby the lever and bolt are connected through two articulations.

4. The combination of a ground box and a toggle joint member within said box, said toggle joint provided with a lever, a projection from said lever, a link pivotally connected to said projection, a pivotally mounted and spring pressed adjustable bolt pivoted at its outer end and a pivot connecting said link and bolt, whereby the lever and bolt are connected through two articulations. 4

5. A toggle joint provided with a lever, a projection from said lever, a link pivotally connected to said projection, a pivotally mounted and spring pressed adjustable bolt pivoted at its outer end to said round box and a pivot connecting said lint and bolt, whereby the lever and bolt are connected through two articulations.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of November, 1923.

ROBERT M. ROBINSON. 

